There is a right way and a wrong way to serve the Lord. Moses shows us the difference.
Leviticus 22:
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name: I am the LORD.
3 Say to them, 'If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.
4 None of the offspring of Aaron who has a leprous disease or a discharge may eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean through contact with the dead or a man who has had an emission of semen,
5 and whoever touches a swarming thing by which he may be made unclean or a person from whom he may take uncleanness, whatever his uncleanness may be---
6 the person who touches such a thing shall be unclean until the evening and shall not eat of the holy things unless he has bathed his body in water.
7 When the sun goes down he shall be clean, and afterward he may eat of the holy things, because they are his food.
8 He shall not eat what dies of itself or is torn by beasts, and so make himself unclean by it: I am the LORD.'
9 They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby when they profane it: I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
10 "A lay person shall not eat of a holy thing; no foreign guest of the priest or hired servant shall eat of a holy thing,
11 but if a priest buys a slave as his property for money, the slave may eat of it, and anyone born in his house may eat of his food.
12 If a priest's daughter marries a layman, she shall not eat of the contribution of the holy things.
13 But if a priest's daughter is widowed or divorced and has no child and returns to her father's house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food; yet no lay person shall eat of it.
14 And if anyone eats of a holy thing unintentionally, he shall add the fifth of its value to it and give the holy thing to the priest.
15 They shall not profane the holy things of the people of Israel, which they contribute to the LORD,
16 and so cause them to bear iniquity and guilt, by eating their holy things: for I am the LORD who sanctifies them."
Acceptable Offerings
17 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
18 "Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners in Israel presents a burnt offering as his offering, for any of their vows or freewill offerings that they offer to the LORD,
19 if it is to be accepted for you it shall be a male without blemish, of the bulls or the sheep or the goats.
20 You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you.
21 And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfil a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.
22 Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the LORD or give them to the LORD as a food offering on the altar.
23 You may present a bull or a lamb that has a part too long or too short for a freewill offering, but for a vow offering it cannot be accepted.
24 Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut you shall not offer to the LORD; you shall not do it within your land,
25 neither shall you offer as the bread of your God any such animals gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you."
26 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
27 "When an ox or sheep or goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as a food offering to the LORD.
28 But you shall not kill an ox or a sheep and her young in one day.
29 And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted.
30 It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall leave none of it until morning: I am the LORD.
31 "So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD.
32 And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you,
33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD."
Things to think about…
1. Eating of the holy things and not eating of the holy things, Lev 22:1-16. What does all this mean? If you were a Priest or belonged in his family, even if you were a slave in the priest’s household you were allowed to eat of the offerings that were holy (set apart for the priesthood). All others – lay people, were not allowed to eat of these offerings. The Lord is holy. The example for us would be the Lord’s Supper or Communion, 1Cor 11:17-34. Paul tells us to examine ourselves because of ‘the body’, 1Cor 11:28. This refers to the body of Christ. Those who are outside of Christ are not holy because they have not accepted payment for their sin through the blood of Christ. As such, if they eat – they profane His name. Some did this in the Corinthian church and had died, 1Cor 11:30. We must honour the Lord’s body, the church. Communion is a time of ‘remembrance’. If anyone eats and drinks the Lord’s supper without believing in Him they are in a dangerous place. Let’s honour the Lord with our words, actions and theology.
2. Give the Lord your best, Lev 22:17-33. Whenever a sacrifice was offered – in this case burnt offerings or freewill offerings, they were to be the best from the flock. The same goes for us. As you serve the Lord with your gift, serve with your whole heart, whether it is in the music ministry, crèche, kids or youth ministry, life group ministry, teaching/preaching, church leadership, etc – do all as unto the Lord. Offer your best in the service of Christ. Let’s offer the Lord our best in everything we do. Praise God for all our leaders at CBC.
3. What is the point of following these rules? Answer, Lev 22:33, He brought us out of Egypt, out of the world. He says ‘I am the Lord’, He is worth it. He has promised that He will take us out of this world and into the next.
4. .
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups on this week. Ric Benson has started the Life Groups at church 6:30pm and will be looking at the life of Christ in the church.
Pastor Jay has started the young adult’s life group after Sunday mornings café time. Open discussion around difficult topics and defending our faith is the focus.
Prayer Points
1. Pray for Tad. He is due for prostate treatment within the next few days.
2. Pray for of Kids@Church, Life groups and church community days.
3. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
4. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
5. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Wonderful start to the Life groups at church this week – good discussion around the meaning and role of the church.
2. Good discussion on Baptism at Young Adults Life group on Sunday.
3. Praise God for the church leaders. May the Lord bless as they make their plans, that He guides our steps.
4. Start of Kids@Church and Life groups this week.
5. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Groups start back on Wednesday night at Church – 6:30pm. New Christians and Young Adults – Sunday after church.
2. Combined Baptist Church service at Beacon Baptist 5pm 11th Feb.
3. Members meeting after the service – 25th Feb 2024.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
5. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for January...
Q. 16. Who were our first parents? A. Adam and Eve.
